Portable platform and shelter

ABSTRACT

A portable platform and a compact tentlike shelter providing a safe, cozy, comforting and snug hiding place for a child. The platform is characterized by a low-lying rigid but lightweight frame suspending a canvas floor. Both ends of the tent embody readily openable and closable flaps having suitable flap-tying tapes which permit the child to crawl through, back and forth at will. The applicable and removable tent material is washable, is draped over a rigid shaped-imparting framework and the lower lengthwise edges are preferably provided with anchorable holddown straps. Thus and amply ventilated, this unique shelter permits concealment, prevents stuffiness and permits playful freedom for the child.

United States Patent [72] Inventor [21 Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented Lucille c. Everett 229 Plne, Dumm, Tex. 72029 812,151

Apr. 1, 1909 May 11, 1971 54] PORTABLE PLATFORM AND SHELTER 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun Anomeys-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: A portable platform and a compact tentlike shelter providing a safe, cozy, comforting and snug hiding place for a child. The platform is characterized by a low-lying ngid but lightweight frame suspending a canvas floor. Both ends of the tent embody readily openable and closable flaps having suitable flap-tying tapes which permit the child to crawl through, back and forth at will. The applicable and removable tent material is washable, is draped over a rigid shaped-imparting framework and the lower lengthwise edges are preferably provided with anchorable holddown straps. Thus and amply ventilated, this unique shelter permits concealment, prevents stufiiness and permits playful freedom for the child.

rag-578,003

PATENTED ml 1 ISYI sum 2 OF 2 Lucille 6. Everett INVENTOK l PORTABLE PLATFORM AND SHELTER This invention relates to a portable platform-supported shelter which is designed and expressly adapted to appeal to a child particularly, in that it is easy to erect and dismantle and lends itself to safe hideaway playtime use ordinarily but not necessarily indoors and is such in construction and capability that it well serves the overall purposes for which it has been perfected.

Briefly the platform-supported shelter, alternatively portable playhouse, is an innovation for playtime and pastime use by a youngster who, as most youngsters, is imaginatively fascinated by hiding and amusing himself within the limited and concealment confines of a unique tent-type shelter. Using a platform-elevated shelter of the type hereinafter described and claimed, the youngster can encounter and experience the uniqueness of campsite living usually indoors but outdoors if and when permissibly safe and appropriate. In carrying out the principles of the invention, several component parts or units are employed; namely, a portable sturdy but lightweight platform, an attachable and detachable washable fabric or equivalent tent, and adapter means, more particularly, a rigid openwork framework which is aligned with and supported atop the canvas or equivalent attaching straps on the platform and over which the correspondingly shaped tent is fittingly draped and retentively fitted.

As will be hereinafter more fully revealed, the platform is characterized by a frame which is made up of appropriately bent lightweight rods or tubular members, as the case may be. The rod portions are so bent as to define a pair of spaced parallel coplanar side rails the respective ends of which are joined by retum-bends to U-shaped underlying rests. These rests support the'frame in low-lying but slightly elevated position and adapt it for attachment thereto of the canvas or equivalent sling. The sling is attached by loops and provides an appropriate yieldable floor.

The invention also features the aforementioned rigid openwork framework having outwardly and downwardly diverging side members and joined at upper converging ends with a top. This framework lends itself to supportive use of the attachable and detachable washable fabric or equivalent covering, more particularly, a tent which is adapted to fit with requisite suitability over the component portions of the framework.

Another object of the invention is to provide a truncated pyramidal type attachable and detachable tent, the lower edges of the sidewalls of which are provided with depending holddown straps. The tent is fittingly draped over a tent-forming framework. The holddown straps can be preferably threaded through slotsprovided therefor in the sides of the framework and the free ends of the straps can be buckled to canvas-holding loops on the aforementioned platfonn.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a portable platform and shelter, alternatively a pastime playhouse, constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and showing the same erected for occupant use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section taken approximately on the plane of the vertical section line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the aforementioned platform frame and which shows the same constructed of separable and connectable sections.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the slip joint connection between the frame sections.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing all of the aforementioned primary units namely, from top to bottom, the attachable and detachable tent, the stabilizing and supporting openwork framework over which the same is adapted to be snugly and fittingly applied and the low-lying but elevated platform.

And FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view in'section andelevation taken approximately on the plane of the section line 66 of FIG. 1.

Referring in particular to FIG. 5 and with further reference to the aforementioned platform this unit is denoted, generally stated, by the numeral 8. It is characterized by a sectional frame made up of the sections shown in FIG. 3. The frame members may constitute solid rods or tubular members (not detailed). Constructed as shown at the bottom in FIG. 5, the

frame is characterized by a pair of coplanar elongated siderails 10. The respective left and right end portions of these rails are provided with inwardly directed return bends which are denoted at 12 and which are connected to inwardly directed substantially U-shaped transverse end members 14 which are in spaced-parallel relationship and are in a common plane and constitute frame seating and elevating rests. The collars 16 are fixed on the main rail portions and the free end portions 18 of these main rails are fitted removably and telescopingly into sockets 20 provided therefor in the enlarged collars 22 at the left in FIGS. 3 and 5. This separable and connectable slip joint is detailed in FIG.'4. It is desirable to make the frame in separable sections for compactness and con venience in shipping, handling and storage. Primarily, the

frame is characterized by side rails 10 and transverse U- shaped elevating rests 14. This frame provides an ideal mounting for the tautly stretched sheet of canvas 24 which is also referred to as a canvas sling. This sling when properly applied provides a floor and in some instances it constitutes a miniature cot on which the child occupant can sit or recline as the case may be. The longitudinal edge portions 26 of the canvas sling are provided at spaced points with looped attaching and retaining straps 28. These straps are of suitable elasticized belting and embrace the rails and properly suspend the canvas sling.

The truncated pyramidal type tent is denoted by the numeral 30 and is made of washable fabric. Lightweight canvas or suitably equivalent material could also be used here. In any event, the flat top portion is denoted at 32 and the outwardly and downwardly diverging sidewalls at 34. One readily openable and closable end wall embodies tie-equipped flaps 36 (FIG. 2). The other end wall is also made up of openable and closable tie-equipped flaps 38 which coact in providing an appropriate entrance and exit opening. These flap-equipped ends permit the child to crawl in and out and back and forth through the shelter. The lower marginal edges 40 of the depending sidewalls are provided with suitably attached holddown straps'42 which are spaced apart, appropriately.

This applicable and removable tent is supported on an appropriately shaped rigid plastic or equivalent adapter unit which is specifically set forth herein as an openwork framework. This framework is designated as an entity by the numeral 44 and comprises a pair of outwardly and downwardly diverging sides which are suitably slotted as denoted at 46. The lower edges 48 rest atop the aforementioned straps and are provided with slots 50 which permit passage of the end portions of the holddown straps 42.

The readily applicable and removable framework also embodies an appropriately apertured top wall 52 (FIG. 5) which connects the upper converging end portions 54 of the sides together. 4

In practice, the coplanar straight edges 48 rest atop the looped straps 28 as evident in FIGS. 2 and 5 in particular. Assuming that the framework is thus lined up and properly seated the tent 30 is fittingly applied after which the lower ends of the straps 42 are passed through the keeper slots 50 and are bent as at 56 so that the tip portions 58 can be connected with the suitably positioned and coacting buckles 60 carried by the upper portions of the aforementioned looped straps 28.

The manner in which the platform 8, tent 30 and adaptable openwork framework 44 coordinate and are united is believed to be evident from the views of the drawings. Likewise, the features and advantages which attend the thus constructed platform-supported shelter are self-evident. Accordingly, a more extended description is deemed to be necessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A tent-type hideaway shelter for a youngster comprising a portable platform embodying a horizontally elongated frame made of spaced parallel tubular members providing a pair of complemental coplanar side rails, the respective opposite ends of said members having return bends joined by U-shaped transverse members, the latter underlying the respective transverse ends of said frame and providing frame-supporting and elevating rests, a sling spanning the space between said side rails and having longitudinal marginal edges provided with looped straps, s'aid straps being made of tough elasticized belting and being looped around and hitched to coacting portions i of said side rails and providing a yieldingly suspended floor,

and a shelter complemental to said platform and embodying a rigid openwork framework having opposed outwardly and downwardly sloping sides having lower edges seated removably atop underlying ones of said straps, and a tentlike fabric covering hooded over and conformingly encasing and supported by said framework 2. The shelter defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said lower edge portions are provided with keeper slots, said covering embodying sidewalls and openable and closable flap-equipped end walls, said sidewalls having free lower marginal edges provided with attached holddown straps, said holddown straps having free lower ends threaded through and beyond adjacent respectively cooperating ones of said slots.

3. The shelter defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein the aforementioned looped straps are provided with attached buckles with which coordinating free ends of the associatively cooperable holddown straps are operatively connected. 

1. A tent-type hideaway shelter for a youngster comprising a portable platform embodying a horizontally elongated frame made of spaced parallel tubular members providing a pair of complemental coplanar side rails, the respective opposite ends of said members having return bends joined by U-shaped transverse members, the latter underlying the respective transverse ends of said frame and providing frame-supporting and elevating rests, a sling spanning the space between said side rails and having longitudinal marginal edges provided with looped straps, said straps being made of tough elasticized belting and being looped around and hitched to coacting portions of said side rails and providing a yieldingly suspended floor, and a shelter complemental to said platform and embodying a rigid openwork framework having opposed outwardly and downwardly sloping sides having lower edges seated removably atop underlying ones of said straps, and a tentlike fabric covering hooded over and conformingly encasing and supported by said framework.
 2. The shelter defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said lower edge portions are provided with keeper slots, said covering embodying sidewalls and openable and closable flap-equipped end walls, said sidewalls having free lower marginal edges provided with attached holddown straps, said holddown straps having free lower ends threaded through and beyond adjacent respectively cooperating ones of said slots.
 3. The shelter defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein the aforementioned looped straps are provided with attached buckles with which coordinating free ends of the associatively cooperable holddown straps are operatively connected. 